Natural Family Planning: Natural Cycles App

If you have tried lots of birth control only to suffer multiple side effects, it may be time to switch to natural family planning!

What is natural family planning? Natural family planning, also known as the fertility awareness method, is a form of pregnancy planning that does not involve medicine or devices, such as birth control pills, the depo shot, an IUD, etc.

Natural Cycles is the first FDA approved hormone-free birth control app. Their mission is to help people discover hormone-free birth control that is side-effect free and learn the unique pattern of your period cycle. On the flip side, the app can also be used to help you get pregnant, as it tracks your cycles, alerting you to your most fertile days.

How does it work? You can’t get pregnant everyday of your cycle. You can only get pregnant the day of ovulation, as well as 5 days before due to sperm survival. Natural Cycles helps track your unique cycle by tracking your daily temperature using a basal thermometer and inputting other data, such as symptoms, sexual activity, and period status.

What is a basal thermometer? A basal thermometer shows you the temperature in tenths of a degree, which allows you to note tiny differences in body temperature. This is important in tracking your period cycle, as your temperature slightly rises during ovulation. Make sure to take your temperature as soon as you wake up, without moving much or getting out of bed. Once you start moving, your temperature will quickly change and be invalid.

I have been using the Natural Cycles app for about a year with complete success. They state a 93% effective rate with typical use and 98% effective rate with perfect use. I make sure to use a condom during intercourse during my “red days”, or fertile days. On not fertile days we have unprotected sex, my partner pulls out to be on the safe side. I never take a chance on potentially fertile days by always using a condom, which puts my mind at ease and prevents me from an unwanted pregnancy. This app is super detailed, offers an abundance of education, and makes me feel confident in learning my personal cycle, to help avoid pregnancy for now, and help me get pregnant when I’m ready.

Click here to save 20% on your first year and get a free basal thermometer!

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